Emigrant Spillway Dike dam
Emigrant Spillway Dike
The Emigrant Spillway Dike, located in Jackson County, Oregon, along the Emigrant Creek, is a Federal-owned structure designed by the Bureau of Reclamation to primarily mitigate flood risks in the area. Built in 1960, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a hydraulic height of 15 feet, offering crucial flood risk reduction to the surrounding community. With a storage capacity of 46,700 acre-feet, the dam plays a vital role in protecting the region from potential water-related disasters.
The dam's construction is solely funded and regulated by the Bureau of Reclamation, with inspections and operations also falling under their jurisdiction. The Emigrant Spillway Dike serves multiple purposes beyond flood risk reduction, including irrigation and recreation, enhancing its value to the local ecosystem and community. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment indicates a high level of risk management is necessary to ensure its continued functionality and safety for residents and wildlife alike.
In the absence of a spillway, the dam's structure and design have proven effective in managing water levels and protecting the area from potential flooding events. The Emigrant Spillway Dike stands as a testament to the Bureau of Reclamation's commitment to water resource management and climate resilience, highlighting the importance of infrastructure in safeguarding communities against natural disasters.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Emigrant Spillway Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Ashland Creek Near Ashland | 4 cfs | → |
| West Fork Ashland Creek Near Ashland | 5 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Blw Ashland Creek At Ashland | 45 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek At Medford | 39 cfs | → |
| Klamath R Bl Iron Gate Dam Ca | 1,450 cfs | → |
| Shasta R Nr Yreka Ca | 89 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Emigrant Spillway Dike.
Boat launches
- Patrick Dunn
- Songer Wayside
- Hyatt Lake Recreation Area
- Cascade Boat Ramp & Dock
- Mountain View Boat Ramp & Dock
- Wildcat Campground
Campgrounds
- Oak Slope Campground
- Emigrant Lake - Point Park
- Glenyan Rv Park & Campground
- Mount Ashland
- Mt Ashland
- Mount Ashland Campground
Fishing spots
Track Emigrant Spillway Dike in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Emigrant Spillway Dike
Where does the data for Emigrant Spillway Dike come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Emigrant Spillway Dike.